My relative needs a haircut, and there are no hairdressers on site. I could take her to a hair salon, but it would be challenging. Any tips from anyone who has cut their loved one’s hair while in a nursing home? I need tips for cutting hair and what tools I would need. My loved one is not able to put her head back in a sink. Would use a spray bottle to wet hair if needed.Thanks!
At the long term care I worked at for 14 years we had a hairdresser and barber on and off. No family was allowed to cut their loved one’s hair, shave them, or trim their nails. No licensed barber/beautician was allowed in either. Some family did take their loved one out for such services.
I cut my hair when I think I need it, where I need it, and my cuts get better everytime I use the Flow-bee. If your relative cannot manipulate the machine themselves, you could easily do a really good haircut for your loved one. The Flow-bee has many attachments that allow me to cut my hair to the lengths I prefer. And, I've even been complimented on some of my new cuts.
Within three haircuts, my Flow-bee paid for itself and I can maintain some independence and self-care more easily, too.
The good thing is that she's very good at handling them when they are scared, and after a few times, they trust her. I don't see why your relative's facility wouldn't agree to have a hairdresser visit regularly! They may even have a place onsite where a previous hairdresser worked, but once that hairdresser left they didn't replace her. Ask. There was an onsite hairdresser at every memory care facility I considered for DH.
Years ago one of my employees was in critical condition in the hospital and needed something done with her hair, and I asked my hair dresser to go help her out, and she did. I of course paid her well for doing so, but this same hair dresser also volunteers with hospice to go cut hospice patients hair for free when needed.
Also one of the homebound ladies who's 90 that I visit has her hairdresser come to her home to cut and perm her hair when needed, so there are options out there, you'll just have to search for them.
Stylists going into someone's private home is not the same as going into a facility. I think the OP will need to tell the facility a "therapeutic fib" and have a hairdresser discretely come in to do it. Then the OP tells admins they did it, if they question it. Sad but necessary in some states I suppose.
Can she sit up in a chair or would she have to remain in bed?
I would not worry about style. Just buy a scissor kit on amazon and make a straight cut and even bangs if it helps. No one is going to maintain her hair in a facility.
I'm dreading this a little for myself... I have hair long enough to put in a pony most of the time because my hair is very straight and grows forward towards my face so doesn't stay away. I look terrible in bangs so my hair is all the same length. When I had a surgery on my dominant arm and couldn't use it, my husband was incredibly terrible at putting it in a pony for me. I later learned this is a common problem. I even saw this comic moment in a romcom I was watching. Boyfriend trying to make a pony on his GF and failing. We still laugh about it.